GameSpot has posted a 6-part, 24-page story covering everything you might want to know about Blizzard. This article starts with the company's humble beginnings and moves through their history of successes up to their current peak. They even have a contest at the end, which offers a chance to play-test the upcoming Diablo II Expansion Pack in San Francisco. One of the most interesting aspects of the article is the discussion of Blizzard's near-failures -- yes, that have had a few misses -- and the times when they've either pulled the plug on a project or drastically changed its direction. The latest instance of a change such as this was with Warcraft III, though they emphasize this was in the best interest of the game:

Those who keep an eye on Blizzard shouldn't have been surprised by the redesign of Warcraft III, given that every two years the company has had to make dramatic changes to its product lineup. (1996 was the Starcraft redo, 1998 brought the cancellation of Warcraft Adventures, and now 2000 brings the Warcraft III overhaul). While the Warcraft III changes were perhaps more highly publicized, Pardo says design decisions always stem from one goal: to make the best game possible. "We're working on the game every single day - people need to trust us," he says when asked about the negative online reaction to the changes.

If you have a minute (or 30), head over to GameSpot and read through the piece. And be sure to answer the trivia questions at the end for a chance to play the D2 expansion pack.

In related news, Blizzard has recently announced a Diablo Gift Set, just in time for the holiday season. It includes hybrid Mac/PC versions of Diablo and Diablo II, as well as the official strategy guides for both. If you have a friend who has yet to be introduced to the Diablo series, this sounds like a fantastic present. Also, be sure to read our review of Diablo II if you are wondering whether the game is worth your time and money.